English

Ontological Models in Quantum Mechanics: What do they tell us?

Quantum Physics 2014-02-25 v1

Abstract

The consequences of the theorems about ontological models are studied. "Maximally ψ\psi-epistemic" is shown to be equivalent to the conjunction of two other conditions, each of which can be realized in Hilbert spaces of arbitrary dimension, but which cannot occur together for d>2. I argue that current theorems do not invalidate an epistemic interpretation of quantum states. A new condition, called "functionally ψ\psi-epistemic", is introduced, which, were it to be excluded, would signal the exclusion of epistemic interpretations.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1402.5689,
  title  = {Ontological Models in Quantum Mechanics: What do they tell us?},
  author = {Leslie Ballentine},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1402.5689},
  year   = {2014}
}